My Parker 45,

I got into Fountain pens completely by accident, a chance find of a Parker "21" for $3 at an antique mall sent me barreling down the slope. Never having used a FP, it's been a whole new experience, I have so little basis for comparison.

Things that make life better.

I plan to begin a small project to seek out little, and sometimes not so little items and products that stand out in a world packed full of the mundane and generic. Products that stand out.

You can still buy US produced sneakers from Newbalance.

http://www.newbalance.com/

The Kitchenaid mixer.

http://www.kitchenaid.com/flash.cmd?/#/page/home

Wagner Cast Iron, cast in Ohio.

http://www.wagnerware.com/PLineCat.asp?Filter=PL&PLine=4

Parker Pens, $7 for a Jotter, produced since 1954!!

http://www.parkerpen.com/en/

Jorgenson cabinet makers clamps.. Simply no substitute.

http://www.adjustableclamp.com/handcat1.htm

These things I appriciate

Things I intend to write about. Things that transcend decades.

Parker Pens....still made in the UK

http://www.parkerpen.com/en/?lang=en

My choice is a "Jotter" in blue or black.

Cast Iron cookware...but just the made in USA stuff.

Anchor and corning.

And as many old school products that I can find that are still being produced.

Ohhh how I wish....

Pentax cared about it's customer base....at all.... even just a bit....

I HATE having to switch to Canon, it's like going over to the dark side and putting on a Darth Vader suit. Canon and Nikon were the evil super powers battling with each other, Pentaxians were the resistance fighters.. We stood against everything the big two stood for. But at the same time, what made me love the old Pentax was gone. Ohhh well...I have picked up my lightsabre and started over..

Well it was bound to happen, after months of study and careful consideration. A somewhat used Canon 20D, 18-55 zoom, and BG2n grip are en route. It was hard to step away from Pentax, but the lack of upgrade path and dealer support gnawed at me.

I put my toe in the water with a couple of film EOS bodies, and a pair of lenses. (35-105 & 100-300) I can't fault Canon's quality or design.

A step into an old direction.